The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-20

Many of the FaDcifui Stories Overthrow by
Plain Truths About 1t.


Many of the FaDciful Stories Overthrow by
Plain Truths About 1t.
J. Nj. Griffin. in Louisville Commercial.
spent last Sunday and Monday in the vicin-
ity of Lincoln City and Gentryville. Spencer
county, looking up facts and relics of the Illus
tfious Abraham Lincoln, who, in his early days,
lived with his father on the hill about forty
rods east of the railroad at Lincoln City station
II was not my intention to repeat any of the ac-
copied history. narrative traditions romance
that has been handed down to us by scores of
historians who never viewed the ground where
Lincoln lived who had never interviewed peg
sons who lived there at that time and were per-
sonally acquainted with the Lincoln family. 1t
wasmv intention to get, if possible, the actual
facts Invested of all romance and fiction.
With this purpose in view / visited Joseph
Gentry, whose father located in 1918 and pur-
chased tie lands where Lincoln City now stands,
and adjoining the land occupied by the father
of Abraham Lincoln. Mr.. Gentry remembers
but little relative to the Lincoln family. as he
was but a child at that time. The elder Lincoln
was carpenter by profession, with but few
rude tools. and but little employment at his
trade OF the characteristics of Abraham Lin
col, Mr. Gentry says that he was of the shift
less, indolent Sort was not the industrious.
hard-working boy pictured in history: spent
most of his time hunting and fishing. but WAS
fond of reading, and eagerly read all the books
he could find. Mr. Gentry says he never saw
LincoIn's mother, and does not remember hav-
ing heard any illusions to her. consequently she
must have died at an earlier date than 1918, as
narrated in history.
next visited Mr.. Romine, who is consider
ably older than Mr.. Gentry. Mr.. Romine's
father located near the Ohio river, miles
above Rockport, in 1915. and operated ferry.
Mr.. Romine says Abraham Lincoln frequently
came down to the river and made his home with
them spending his time hunting and fishing, but
was passionately fond of reading. and would bor-
row books at every opportunity. He says young
Lincoln, at this time. did not show any traits of
character intelligence which would attract
attention, except Incidence and lack of business
qualities. The elder Lincoln made frequent
trips down the river fiatboats as a laborer,
ha LEAF an
was his principal means of subsistence. In 1929
Mr.. Romne's father located upon lands where
the Gentryville junction 20, OF the Airline
n mile from the Lincoln cabin. At
this time the elder Lincoln had remarked, but
was very poor, lived in rude log cabin of one
room, had but bed, two three chairs,
iron teakettle, baking kettle, skillet and perhaps
q dozen dishes. He had not made much progress
in the way of farming; had cleared up" only a
few acres, just enough for a garden and "a
patch" of corn
Is was the opinion of Mr.. Romine that Abe
Lincoln die scarcely anything in the way of
farming, that he never split rail in his lfe and
that the stories of his labors in clearing away
the primeval forests were pure fiction.
About the year 1880 the Lincolns removed to
Illinois, and, Mr. Romine says abandoned
their land in Indiana which, he thinks was not
paid for. or only the first payment was made
when the land was entered by Mr.. Lincoln.
According to history the house in which Lin
coin lived in his youth was removed bodily to
Illinois, and erected there as a memorial of our
original cabin was occupied by hunters squat
tiers and emigrants successfully for several
years. and was finally torn down and the logs
rotted the ground. This caoin about
10x16 feet in size, built of round logs, with
''chinks" and mud plasterng between the roof
was of split slaves held down by poles pegged
down to the rafters The door of split
slaves pinned together. The fireplace was a
pile of stones laid in oval form. and merely
opening in the roof for the smoke to escape.
The hearth was made by laying large fiat stones
around. There was but one window in the
cabin. In summer the window was open all the
time in winter 1t was closed by piece of white
cloth or of raw-hide through which the light
could penetrate.
Before the Lincolns removed to Illinois they
had commenced the erection of hewed log
house, but had only put up the walls; the roof
was put on several years afterwards and the
house completed. This house stood until 1865.
and was pointed out to historians tourists
devctees and relic hunters the house in which
the immortal Lincol was born and reared TO
manhood. The miles of fence around were
pointed out to the devout worshpers the
identical rails split by the herculean hands of
"Old Abe" An enterprising chap who had an
eye to business, drove q lucrative business for
many years by turning canes, rolling pins, but
ter stamps. hoe handles, ETC., which he repre-
sented to be made from the identical rails split
by 'Old Abe In regard to the grave OF
Lincolns mother, an uncertainty exists. Mr..
Romine says that about the year 1880 he exam
ined the spot where it said that Lncoln's
graves could be seen. except slight depressions in
the ground, which was covered with dense
underground of brers and other brush No
then living in the vicinity could distinguish the
Lincoln grave from the Others but by common
consent selected the grave of Mrs.
Lincoln, and the underground cleared away, and
a stone was placed at the head of the grave to
mark the place.
1t is said that another grave beside is that of
niece of Mrs. Lincoln, but could find no evil
dence that such person child was buried
there. The people of the United States in gen
era1 have been led to believe that a magnificent
monument had been erected at the grave
of the mother of Abraham Lincoln, that
the lone grave of the mother of immortal
Lincoln has been rescued from oblivion by q do
nation of the princely millionares the Stude-
bakers, of South Bend, Ind. Indeed, / expected
to see in the forest stately monument looming
up in solitary, but imposing grandeur. To my
surprise found instead an ordinary plain slab,
which, in country parlance would be called "a
grave-stone." The slab would, in my opinion,
cost about $50. but it was incIosed by pretty
iron fence, which gives it creditahle appear
ance.
Upon the slab is the following inscription
/: NANCY HANKS LINCOLN,
+: Mother of President Lincoln,
I'll